Footwear



July 28, 1936. E. B. WARD 2,048,904

FOOTWEAR Filed Sept. 14, 1954 INVENTOR.

BY W! ATTORNEY.

Patented July 28, 1936 FOOTWEAR Eugene B. Ward, West Springfield, Mass. Application September 14, 1934, Serial No. 743,980 4 Claims. (01. 36-71.)

This invention relates to improvements in footwear and is directed more particularly to improvements in shoes and the like having means associated therewith for supporting a certain part or parts of the foot.

The principal objects of the invention are the provision of a support for a part or parts of the foot which, according to the novel features of the invention, is movable and arranged to support said part or parts in all natural positions of the foot. The certain part or parts of the foot referred to may be the metatarsal arch or heads and, according to this invention, a support is provided therefor which is arranged to support the foot when the shoe and foot are relatively flat as well as when they are bent or flexed, as in walking.

To facilitate this novel supporting function, the device of this invention has a member which is movable relative to the sole of the shoe so as to follow the contour of the sole 'of the foot when i the heel of the shoe is raised from the floor, as it is in walking, as well as when the heel is on the floor, as it is when standing.

According to the preferred form of the invention, the said support is moved by the bending or flexing of the shoe as the wearer bends the foot. In this way the support automatically moves with the shoe and foot and automatically assumes a supporting position accordingly as the foot is flexed so as to bend the shoe.

The invention in its broad aspects is adapted for use in connection with shoes of all types and sizes. While it may take various forms in order to be adapted for use in connection with various shoes, the novel features thereof consist in a general way of a supporting member or members arranged for movements relative to the shoe, the movements being brought about by the flexing or bending of the shoe as the wearer bends or flexes his foot.

Various other novel features and advantages of the invention will be more fully hereinafter 45 referred to in connection with the accompanying description of the invention in the form at present preferred. It will be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In the 50 drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the support of the invention associated with a shoe;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the support shown in Fig. 1; and

55 Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View to illus- Itrate that the support member may be curved or arched for its supporting function.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

A shoe S is represented by dot-dash lines with 5 the usual heel 2, shank 4 and sole 6. The shoe S is shown as it appears when the sole and heel are on the floor as in standing. However, when one is walking, the heel 2 of his shoe is elevated by bending the foot which results in bending or 10 flexing of the shoe at a point forwardly of the shank '4.

A shank stiffening member 8 is shown as extending upwardly over the shank 4. This is pref erably suitably associated with the outer sole 6 15 and disposed below the inner sole which is not shown. The supporting element or elements of this invention may be associated with a shoe in such a way that its parts are disposed above the inner sole. 20

The shank 8 is shaped similarly to that commonly used in shoes but preferably has a lower end portion I8 extending slightly upwardly as shown. A lower end portion ID of the shank may be utilized in the practise of this invention but it 25 will be readily appreciated that a part other than the part I0 may be used in lieu thereof.

A member l2 for the supporting device of the invention is associated with the sole of the shoe 6 and this may be secured thereto by fastening 30 means such as rivets or the like (not shown) extending through such openings provided therein as T4. The rear end of the part [.2 in the form of the invention shown is hinged as at IE to the forward end of part [0 of the member 8. 35

A support l6 for the foot includes the part l8 and a forward spoon-like portion 20. In the form of the invention shown, the part I8 is integral with the shank member while the part 20 is hinged to the part l8 at I9, as shown. According to the preferred form of the invention, in the inactive position of the shoe shown, the pivotal connections [5 and I9 are arranged so that the latter is disposed slightly forward of the former.

A post such as 22 is rigidly associated with the part l2 and is adapted to function as a fulcrum for the member 20. This extends upwardly from the member l2 beneath the forward member 20 of the support.

As will be seen, the part 20 is arranged for swinging movements relative to the sole of the shoe so that as the shoe is bent or flexed in walking, as when the rear part of the shoe is elevated, the pivotal connection I9 is caused to be thrown forwardly and downwardly. Since the support 20 rides on fulcrum 22, It is automatically ele- Vated to a position approximated by the dash lines shown.

With the foot in the shoe and with the heel resting on the floor, the support is formed so that it functions to support the foot at the rear of the metatarsal heads. As the heel is raised, as in walking, so that the foot and shoe are bent, the support is elevated to follow up the contour of the elevated portion of the sole of the foot behind the metatarsal heads and supply even pressure thereto. In this way, the foot in the region of the metatarsal heads is supported during the act of walking. When the foot is relaxed as when standing the support automatically reverts to its lower position.

It will be noted that the movable supporting means is actuated by the bending or flexing of the shoe brought about by flexing the foot whereby the support automatically performs its supporting function during all normal movements of the foot and in all positions thereof.

The supporting member I 6 is preferably curved longitudinally and transversely as shown in Fig. 3 for the most eflicient supporting function and may be of such size or area as desired. The device may be used in connection with shoes of all types and the parts may be arranged and constructed to suit conditions. Instead of the supporting device consisting of the parts l0, l2 and I6 associated with the shank, these parts may be disassembled therefrom, it being understood that the support is actuated for its supporting function by bending or flexing of the shoe.

As noted above, the device of this invention is adapted to be inserted in a shoe above the inner sole. That is to say, although it is perhaps preferable that the device be associated with the shoe during the manufacture thereof between the inner and outer soles, because of its novel simplicity of form and pcsitiveness of operation, it may be inserted in a shoe which has been built without such a device.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect to a preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination in a shoe structure of, a shank extending along the longitudinal arch part of the shoe, a support member at the forward end of said shank hinged thereto for up and down movements and adapted to support that part of the foot which is in front of the longitudinal arch and just behind the forward ends of the metatarsal bones of the foot, and an actuating member associated with the shoe structure engageable with the support member to elevate the same and operable by flexing of the sole of the shoe to cause the support member to support said part of the foot behind the metatarsal bones.

2. The combination in a shoe having a flexible sole of means for supporting a foot comprising, a shank insaid shoe extending along the longitudinal arch of the shoe and terminating at a distance from the metatarsal arch, a support hinged to the forward end of said shank for elevating that part of the foot which is in front of the longitudinal arch and just behind the forward ends of the metatarsal bones, and actuating means beneath said support including a body part hinged to the forward end of said shank and a part engageable with the support adapted to elevate the same when said sole is flexed.

3. The combination in a shoe having a flexible sole of means for supporting a foot comprising, a shank in said shoe extending along the longitudinal arch of the shoe and terminating at a distance from the metatarsal arch, an actuating member associated with said sole forwardly of said shank having an upwardly-extending fulcrum part, and a support hinged to the forward end of said shank adapted to be engaged by said fulcrum part when said sole is flexed to elevate said support and support that part of the foot which is in front of the longitudinal arch and 3 just behind the forward ends of the metatarsal bones.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a device for supporting that part of the foot which is in front of the longitudinal arch and just behind the forward ends of the metatarsal bones comprising in combination, a shank for extending along the longitudinal arch of a shoe and terminating at a distance from the metatarsal arch thereof, an actuating member hinged to the forward end of said shank for up and down movements relative thereto and provided with an upwardly-extending fulcrum part, and a support member forwardly of said shank overlying said actuating member and adapted to be engaged by said fulcrum part when said actuating member moves relative to said shank.

EUGENE B. WARD. 

